Fire-escape.



W. H. TIBBALS.

FIRE ESCAPE.

APPLICATION FILED Nov. I4. I9Ia.

Patented July 11, 1916.

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w. H. TIBBALS.

FIRE ESCAPE.

APPLICATION min Nov.

Patented July 11, 1916.

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WALTER I-I. TIBBALS, OF SYRACUSE, NEW YORK.

FIRE-ESCAPE.

Application filed November 14, 1913.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, WALTERII. TiBALs, of Syracuse, in the county ofOnondaga, in the State of New York, have invented new and usefulImprovements in Fire-Escapes, of which the following, taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings, is a full, clear, and exactdescription.

This invention relates to certain improvements in lire escapes of theclass set forth in my pending application No. 792,901 filed October 1,1913, and involving the use of a cable-operated reel or sheave and acentrifugally operated brake actuated thereby for regulating the speedof rotation of the reel or sheave and thereby regulating the descent ofa person or other weight supported by the cable.

The main object is to bring the entire brake-operating mechanism whollywithin the periphery of the cable-operated sheave or reel and, at thesame time, to balance the rotating parts so as to avoid excessivebinding or torsional strains which might interfere with the freeoperation of the moving parts.

Another object is to enable the parts to be easily and quickly assembledin symmetrically compact form and in such manner that each part aids inretaining the other parts in operative position.

A further object is to support the sheave wholly upon gear idlersforming parts of the mechanism for transmitting rotary motion to thebrake shoes, thereby assuring a positive mesh with at least one of theintermediate gears and rendering the device more reliable by reason ofthe multiplicity of such intermediate gears which not only evenlydistributes the load upon the center pinion and thereby reduces theliability of stripping the teeth, but also assures a positive drive ofsuch pinion even though the teeth of one ormore of the intermediategears should be broken.

Other objects and uses will be bro,l in the following description.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a iire lescapeembodying the various features of my invention. Fig. 2 is an enlargedtransverse sectional view ught out through the center of the deviceshown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a face view of the interior mechanism of thelire escape, showing the casing in section. Fig. l is a sectional viewSpecification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 11, 1916.

serial ivo. 800,952.

through the same device in the plane of the 5 is a perspective view ofthe actuator for `the brake shoes.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of one of the brake shoes. Fig. 7 is asectional view similar to Fig. 2, showing a modified forni of myinvention in which the gears for transmitting motion from the reel tothe brake shoe actuator is at one side only of the reel and brake shoes.

Theiire escape, shown in Figs. l, 2 and 3, comprises opposite similarcase sections 1 of substantially the same circular .form and size,preferably cup-shaped having their open sides provided with radial lugsor ears Q for receiving clamping bolts 3 by which the case sections aresecured together face to face to form a circular casing for receivingand iiiclosing the various moving parts presently described. The centralportions of these case sections are braced or stayed against inwardbuckling by a central shaft or stay-bolt 4- having reduced ends whichlit snugly in suitable apertures 5 centrally in the sections, theintermediate portion being enlarged to form shoulders engaging the innerfaces of the case sections to hold them a fixed distance apart. Thisshaft or staybolt 4 also forms a convenient bearing' vfor a rotarysleeve 6 which is fitted with an easy turning it upon said shaft and isprovided at its ends with pinions 7 preferably integral therewith, thecentral portion of the sleeve being provided with radially projectingarms 8 spaced uniform distances apart and together with the sleeve andpinions constitute what may be termed an actuator for a correspondingnumber of brake shoes 9 These brake shoes preferably consist of quartersegments of cast brass, iron or other suitable metal of sufficientweight to operate by centrifugal force against the inner face of thereel or sheave 10 as they are rotated by the arms 8 of the actuator.

The sheave 10 is rotatably mounted within the casing so as to entirelysurround the brake shoes and is provided in its periphery with anannular groove 11 gradually tapering inwardly and radially for receivingand supporting a cable 12 and frictionally holding the latter againstslipping by ivedging into the groove as the reel f is rotated by aperson or other weight sup- Tao sheave if desired.

ported by one or the other side of the cable.

It is found that'by employing a cable of slightly greater diameter thanthe transverse width of the base of the sheave,` a reel or sheave .witha single groove vmay be employed in connection Vwitha single turn of thecable in the groove providing the portions of the cable at one side ofthe sheave are broughtinto more or less close proX- imity and held insuch position by adjacent of the sheave by pins -15- or equivalentvfastening means although it is evident that these gears may be castintegral with the Rotary motion is transmitted from the internal gears-14 to the pinions -7- by means of intermediate idlers '-16* which Yarelocated between opposite sides of the sheave and corresponding sides ofthe case 4and are journaled upon suitable studs -17 upon the adjacentsides of the case.

The inner surface of the sheave is circular 'and forms an annularbraking surface 18 surrounding the peripheries of the brake shoes andadapted to be engaged by the latter when operated radially and outwardly"by centrifugal force due to their rotation about the aXis of the shaft4i-4 by thev arms -S-f of the actuator as the sheave l0- is rotated bythe operation of one or the other side of the cable 12-.

l' If necessary or desirable, the pinion --7,

intermediate gear V16- andinternal gear `-l4' at one side of the sheavemay be omitted as shown in Fig. 7 in which case the corresponding sideof the sheave would preferably be journaled upon the adjacent Iend ofthe sleeve Gf but the only object .of that construction' is to reducethe number ofY parts without in` any way departing from the spirit of myinvention.

The edges of the arms -8 of the actuator are preferably tapered radiallyand en- ,ter radial grooves.-l9- in the meeting `edges ofthe brake shoesor segments 9- to holdthe latter against undue lateral 'movement so asto avoid friction with the inner faces of the opposite gears -16-, it

being understood Ythat the actuator isheld against .axial movement byengagement of the ends of the sleeve .-6 with the inner the other sideof the cable.

Abrake shoes against the inner face of the sheave as the latter is.actuated by one or These internal gears lllalthough secured to thesheave, and therefore constitute a part of it, also forms a part of themechanism for transmitting reverse motion from the sheave to theactuator and thence to the brake shoes for operating the latter bycentrifugal force againstthe inner face of the sheave, said mechanismbeing,y therefore, located wholly 'within the periphery of the sheave soas to lproduce a compact structure capable of being placed within acircular case of only 'slightly larger diameter than the sheave.

The intermediate gears are spaced uniform distances apart around theaxes o-f their respective pinions, thereby evenly distributing the loadupon the corresponding internal gear and pinion and producing a balancedstructure having its center of gravity approximately coincident with thecenter of the case. Another feature of this arrangement of th`eintermediate gears is that they constitute roller bearings forsupporting the sheave concentrically with the axes of the pinions -6-and shaft 4- yand assures a positive mesh between the internal gears onthe sheave and intermediate gears and pinions by reason of the fact thatthe weight of a person or other object on one or the other side of thecable is carried by the sheave and transmitted to the intermediate gearsand thence to the pinions but 'is distributed evenly to differentportions of the internal gears and pinions so that the i strain uponsaid gears in any one direction is reduced to a minimum.

By using separate sets of gears at oppovsite sides of the sheave, theactuator is rotated with greater precision in the same plane which tendsto throw the weighted brake shoes -9- in direct radial lines against theinner face of the sheave as the latter is rotated by the cable.

In operation, the case may be secured in any .desired manner to asuitable support within or upon the outside of the upper stories of thebuilding in close proximity to a window or other exit, the cable beingnormally in position with one end free ready for use close to the casewhile the other end maybe neatly reeled and supported in any convenientposition, preferably close to the case, and free to uncoil Whenthe firstnamed end is being used to lower a person or other Weight.

The length of the cable usually corresponds approximately to thedistance of the lire escape from the ground or other safe landing sothat when one end has been used to carry one or more personsto suchlanding, the other end Will be in a position ready for use by anotherperson or persons, thus permitting both sides of the cable to be usedalternately.

During the descent of either side of the cable by Weight thereon, thesheave will be rotated in one direction While the brake shoes Q- will berotated bodily in the reverse direction and Will be operatedcentrifugally against the inner face of the sheave, thereby retardingthe speed of rotation of the Sheave and regulating the descent of theperson Supported by the cable to a safe speed. Y

What I claim is:

In a fire escape, a case, a sheave therein having a single externalannular groove and an internal annular brake-surface in the same planeof rotation as the groove, a single cable engaged in the groove andhaving its opposite ends passed out through one and the same side of thecase in the same plane as the groove, centrifugally operated brake-shoesfor engaging the brake-surface, a rotary actuator for the brake-shoescentrally within the shcave, and separate devices for transmittingmotion from the opposite ends of the sheave to corresponding ends of theactuator.

In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 10th day ofNovember, 1913.

WALTER I-I. TIBBALS.

Witnesses:

IFI. E. CHASE, EVA E. GREENLEAF.

Gopies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C.

